The “harmonious” design of a Starbucks outlet located at one of Japan’s top Shinto sites has outraged the architectural sensibilities of many Japanese, although pleasurable feelings of violation at the hands of corporate America are sadly complicated by the fact it was designed by Japanese architects…

The design for the Dazaifu Tenman-gū (a sprawling Shinto shrine complex in Fukuoka, built to honour the grave of deified Heian period poet and court schemer Sugawara Michizane – although rather more pertinently, it attracts 2 million visitors a year) branch of Starbucks was created by architectural firm Kengo Kuma & Associates.

As the branch is positioned on the traditional approach to the shrine, the Starbucks and their architects naturally felt they ought to “harmonize with the townscape,” resulting in the unmistakeably traditional application of scores of wooden sticks to the interior:

Along the main path to the shrine, there are traditional Japanese buildings in one or two stories. The project aimed to make a structure that harmonizes with such townscape, using a unique system of weaving thin woods diagonally.

The building is made of 2,000 stick-like parts in the sizes of 1.3m – 4m length and 6cm section. Total length of the sticks reached as far as 4.4km.

[…]

Piling up of small parts from the ground was highly developed in the traditional architecture of Japan and China. This time the method was greatly improved in combination with state-of-the art technology so that people are brought further into the architecture. It is a fluid, cave-like space.

As might be expected of such a daring and avante garde architectural creation, most non-architects seem to think it is terrible:

“This is a lumber yard?”

“More like a pile of disposable wooden chopsticks.”

“However you look at it, it’s a warehouse.”

“Looks like you could get a nasty injury.”

“You would not want to fall over in there.”

“I bet all the staff are covered in bruises…”

“Pretty creepy design. Wouldn’t like to see a fire in a place like that.”

“Must be a devil to clean.”

“Another worthless piece of architectural onanism.”

“I’m familiar with the architect and they do some nice stuff, but this really is just onanism.”

“Creepy. But what’s scarier is that some people actually have tastes which lead them to think this is stylish.”

“I’m more interested in why Starbucks thought they should open a store in a location like that.”

“It’s one of their ‘concept stores’ – they have a bunch all over the country.”

The Americans did that to Japan after WW2. The Japanese took what they received, made it their own (some might say better), and shipped it right back in the 60's and 70's.

You want a cheap but well made transistor radio or stereo? Buy a Japanese brand. You want a cheap but well made motorcycle? Hands down, buy a Honda. In the market for a new camera? Try a Nikon or Pentax. Want a good Jeep-like 4X4? Toyota Landcruiser. We gave them Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, and Popeye. They gave us Astro Boy, Macross, Gundam, and Lupin the Third.

Sorry but Mickey Mouse is belgian. I'm sure about Pop-eye but he is from Europe as well, i think.
But it's ok: you gave us , wondrous color/shape patterns, manga style, mosaic and tentacle porn. I can't complain.

I've been to Shinto temples, and the crass commercialism lining the .5 km street that leads to a major temple would put any American flea-market to shame. Small shops barely 3m x 3m crammed with every cheap-ass trinket you can imagine on a "street" that is barely 3m wide itself, that go on for blocks. We were astounded that ANY religion would allow such activity on their land, but the Japanese tourists we saw were perfectly at home with the whole thing. So I don't understand the complaints here. If the "crass commercialism" of Star Bucks being just one of the hundreds of shops lining the path to the Shrine is a problem, then shut-down all the OTHER shops as well.

Maybe if you pulled your shit talking, 5-year old logic talking, laughably childish head out of your ass, maybe you would realize coffee they make is pretty decent, way more decent than what you make.

Your argument applies to all corporations across the world united in greed, cronism, and corruption i.e. most japanese companies. If you are not interested in living up to your own criticism, I suggest keeping your mouth shut.

"Maybe if you pulled your shit talking, 5-year old logic talking, laughably childish head out of your ass, maybe you would realize coffee they make is pretty decent, way more decent than what you make."

Maybe if you pulled YOUR head out of your ass you'd realize that Starbucks is nothing like an actual Italian espresso bar which they're trying to emulate. Their "coffee" is shit tier in comparison too. 25% espresso + 75% hot water = Americano.

Talk about wasted space.... And for Japan where it's at a legendary premium.

Really, ever look into Starbuck's symbol? It's the "Siren" of greek/western mythology. The sanitized versions have them singing to get sailors to drive their ships onto rocks. In the real myths it's so they can eat them and they also use seduction. She's got two tentacle like fish legs but a human organ and she's spreading 70s Hustler magazine style.